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Ageing infrastructure to blame

"We depend crucially on that government-owned infrastructure to make the system work."

Laidlaw said there had been "quite a lot of money" dedicated to upgrading the network in the rest of the region, but more needed to be done in the central city.

"This has happened before and it will happen probably again until the KiwiRail asset is upgraded."

Laidlaw also asked people to understand why there were not enough replacement buses.

"Look, there is no large pool of buses held in reserve sitting and waiting at the depots. The bus companies don't do that and you can understand why."

Thousands pouring into city every day

Wellington Chamber of Commerce chief executive John Milford said if it was just the 20,000 commuters affected, the situation would not be so bad.

However, there were at least 40,000 people coming into the city from the north every day, all affected by a lack of resilience in the infrastructure.

"We have a limited number of roads and a limited number of rail lines, and if something happens to them we get this chaos," he told Newstalk ZB's Kerre McIvor.

"It's all about resilience. We need more money invested in resilience.

"We keep going on about it in Wellington, and where we think we're going to make progress, these things have just been deferred for the future."

More corridors needed to built to provide other avenues for people to get in and out of the city, whether it be by private car, public transport, or another method, but at the moment something like a slip could wipe out SH2, blocking off thousands of people from the Hutt and Wairarapa.

Business paid for Ubers for staff

Paul Retimanu, who runs Karaka Cafe and the Wharewaka Function Centre on the waterfront said they'd had to pay for Ubers for two of their staff, costing about $63.50 each.

He said the effects of the traffic woes were twofold - staff unable to make it in, and customers also stranded.

Problems of this scale did not happen regularly, but Retimanu said something needed to be done.

"Things out of our control are starting to creep up that wouldn't have crept in five or six years ago."

One business in Carterton is offering free coffee to stranded commuters.

3mile Coworking Community, a shared business hub in the Wairarapa town, has experienced a steady stream of displaced passengers, all of whom have been provided with free coffee.

Rail users disappointed

There had been many disappointed people as they arrived at Paraparaumu Railway Station this morning.

"People have to get into Wellington for various reasons, some more important than others."

Shop owner Ann-Maree Trott said her son drove from Wellington to pick her husband up at Porirua Railway Station.

"He had to get into town because he's got an important meeting with people who are coming in from overseas."

The Kāpiti line is on reduced services with trains only operating between Waikanae and Porirua.

Traffic was busy as people have driven to the park and rides along the network, seen the cancellations, and hopped back into the car.

NZTA has warned motorists to expect "significant" delays on major highways near the capital, as southbound traffic was heavier than usual as of 6.40am.

WELLINGTON TRAFFIC - SIGNIFICANT DELAYS – UPDATE 9:45AM Congestion has largely EASED on both SH1 and SH2 after this morning's delays. Traffic is still heavy from Johnsonville on SH1 and from Petone on SH2, though delays are easing quickly. ----- 6:40AM WED 3 JULY Commuters in the Wellington region should expect additional delays throughout peak hours today, as there will be no train services running to and from the Wellington Station on the Hutt, Kapiti, Melling and Wairarapa lines due to a derailed freight train. During this time, there will be as many as 20,000 extra passengers on the State Highway network during peak hours. Please plan ahead before travel, allow extra time, or consider delaying your journey. For more information, please visit: www.metlink.org.nz/service-updates/tomorrow-mornings-peak-services-may-be-affected-by-tonights-disabled-freight-train/ ^RS

KiwiRail chief operations officer Todd Moyle said that about 7.40pm last night a number of wagons on a freight train leaving Wellington freight yard derailed.

"The wagons remained upright but it took the locomotive engineer 230 metres before he was able to stop the train, leaving damaged tracks and points on the main tracks into Wellington."

KiwiRail brought in two cranes and staff from across the North Island to support local staff in removing the damaged wagons and repairing tracks overnight, he said.

The cause of the derailment is being investigated, he said.

"KiwiRail apologises for the inconvenience and is working as quickly as possible to restore the network to its normal operation.

"Safety is our utmost priority."

Work crews have worked overnight to clear the freight train and repair the damage, but that process is expected to take some time. Photo / Metlink

The three derailed wagons and the remainder of the train were removed by crane from site by 5am, he said.

"KiwiRail is now focused on repairing the damaged points and track.

"The recovery of the derailed wagons was complicated by having to work around the overhead wires.

"The power supply to these wires had to be isolated before the recovery could commence."

The site of the incident this morning at 7.15. Photo / Emme McKay

Your service

Kāpiti line:

Reduced train services stopping at all stations will run on a half hourly timetable from 6am between Waikanae and Porirua only. If you are wanting to travel between Porirua and Wellington Metlink recommends alternative transport or avoiding travel.

Hutt Valley line:Reduced train services stopping at all stations will run on a half hourly timetable from 6am between Upper Hutt and Petone only. If you are wanting to travel between Petone and Wellington Metlink recommends alternative transport or avoiding travel.

Wairarapa line:Six buses will travel between Masterton and Wellington in the morning, which will be departing at 6.47am only. Metlink recommends alternative transport or avoiding travel.